D.C. UNIVERSE REBIRTH - THE DELUXE EDITION

EXPERIENCE THE REBIRTH ALL OVER AGAIN.
BY JESSE SCHEDEEN
DC Universe Rebirth #1 really set the tone for DC in 2016. It ushered in a bold new era for the publisher, one that cast aside the darkness of the New 52 and worked to restore sense of hope and joy in the DCU. Needless to say, that oversized one shot was a major success, and it paved the way for many great comics to come. Now, with the release of a Deluxe Edition HC, DCU Rebirth becomes ever so slightly better.

I wrote a detailed review of DC Universe Rebirth #1 just ahead of its release this past May, where I said:
For all the great stories that came out of the New 52, there was always something about this version of the DC Universe that didn't sit right. DC Rebirth manages to break the fourth wall and turn that idea into a story. This one-shot is a wonderful showcase for what this universe can be when it's executed properly. It's both a fitting farewell for Johns and a worthy template for DC's new wave of comics to follow. Reading Rebirth feels like coming home again.

This hardcover contains no new story material, so I won't spend too much time rehashing that first review. Suffice it to say, the comic has lost none of its impact over the past six months. It remains a fine collaboration between writer Geoff Johns and artists Ethan Van Sciver, Ivan Reis, Gary Frank and Phil Jimenez. All four are artists who have collaborated with Johns on some of his biggest DC projects, and all four manage to channel the intense emotion and burning love for the DCU apparent in Johns' script.
If anything, rereading DCU Rebirth now has its own, unique appeal. The comic set in motion a number of new status quo and story developments for various characters. Some of those (the three Jokers mystery, the fate of the JSA) have yet to be really addressed. But others, such as the revamped approach to Blue Beetle, the return of the pre-Flashpoint Superman and Wally West becoming acclimated to an unfamiliar DCU, have been a major focus in recent months. It's fascinating to go back and look at how Johns was setting the stage for those stories here.